Firefighters doused a morning blaze in Orillia, and officials say they believe a charging e-bike was the cause.
Michael Clark, fire chief for the Orillia Fire Department, wrote in an email to Barrie 360 that they were called to a home on West Street North at 4:36 a.m.
Clark says the fire originated in an attached garage.
"We believe that the fire was started from an e-bike that was being charged," Clark wrote. "The fire mostly involved the garage. Due to the quick work of the firefighters, the main home received only minor damage."
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West Street was closed between Highway 11 and Commerce Road while firefighters attended the situation.
According to the chief, no occupants were home at the time and there were no injuries.
He says a damage total has not been determined yet, and noted safety while charging certain devices.
"We are concerned that we are starting to see a trend with lithium-ion devices," Clark stated. "It is important to remind everyone to be sure to use charging systems that are meant for the specific device."
